Cosmetic container

ABSTRACT

In a small container, such as a cosmetic compact or the like, a hinge is loosely coupled to top and bottom insert members without the use of fasteners or the like. Top and bottom cover plates serve to capture the hinge and prevent its inadvertent removal. In one embodiment, finger means formed integrally with the hinge are received in appropriate slots or recesses formed in the top and bottom insert members. The aforementioned abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

v United States Patent [1 3,674,039 Vastano 1 July 4, 1972 [54] COSMETICCONTAINER 1,518,594 12/1924 Marble ..l32/83 R [72] Inventor: Alphonso N.vastano East Brunswick, 569,267 10/1896 W|ll|ams.... ..220/DlG. 26

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene [73] Assignee: Volupte, lnc.,Elizabeth, NJ. Assistant Examiner -Gregory E. McNeill 221 Filed: Sept.21, 1970 9" mg [21] Appl. No.: 74,035 [57] ABSTRACT In a smallcontainer, such as a cosmetic compact or the'like, a [52] U.S.Cl..l32/82 hinge is loosely coupled to top and bottom insert members [51]Int. Cl. ..A45d 33/00 without the use of fasteners or the like. Top andbottom cover [58] Field of Search ..l32/82, 79 R, 83 R; plates serve tocapture the hinge and prevent its inadvertent 220/DlG. 26; 206/37, 38removal. In one embodiment, finger means formed integrally with thehinge are received in appropriate slots or recesses [56] ReferencesCited formed in the top and bottom insert members. 7

UNITED STATES PATENTS The aforementioned abstract is neither intended todefine the invention of the application which of course, is measured byI? gommgstar E the claims, not is it intended to be limiting as to thescope of ax th 3,314,436 4/1967 Nichol... ..l32/83 R emven mm any way1,973,433 9/1934 Foster ..132/83 R 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 46 p e4:5." 22 s M 6 l 28 4 4 Y j 30 54 7O 56 42 \7 2 I4 s'sb 34b 2 48 '8COSMETIC CONTAINER This invention relates generally to containers suchas cosmetic compacts and more particularly to improved hinge meanstherefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In addition to constantly striving toimprove the appearance of a cosmetic compact, the manufacturer must findmeans for minimizing manufacturing costs in order to remain competitive.One of the variables of manufacturing costs is assembly procedure. Itfollows that the more complicated the construction, the more costly itwill be to assemble the finished article.

Accordingly, it is a primary consideration of substantially allmanufacturers to design the compact such that the manufacturing andassembly techniques are of the simplest order. In keeping with thisconsideration, the present invention provides improved compactconstruction by eliminating the need for fasteners to hold the hingeplates in place.

In its broadest aspect, the present invention providesupper and lowerinsert members that are positioned in upper and lower cover members,respectively. In one embodiment the insert members have radiallyextending notches formed in the peripheral wall thereof in order toreceive similarly oriented tabs that are formed integrally with thehinge member. The tabs are, positioned into the recesses in the insertmembers and then the cover members are secured to the insert members,for example by adhesive means. Thus the peripheral walls or flanges ofthe cover members overlap and retain the hinge plates. Construction ofthis type eliminates the need for rivets, screws or other fasteners forretaining the hinge plate.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention toprovide an improved cosmetic compact.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a cosmeticcompact having hinge means secured thereto without additional fasteners.

An advantage of the present invention is that the construction permitslower manufacturing costs.

A feature of the present invention is that fastener means for the hingeplate need not be stocked and inventoried.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide hinge meansthat are loosely coupled to the insert members of the cosmetic compactand which are held thereon by means of the cover members of the compact.

A feature of the present invention is that it avoids the unsightly tabs,notches, rivets, etc., often present when attached hinges are employed.I

A particular object of this invention is to provide a separate hingeconstruction which looks like an integral hinge.

A different object is to provide a compact with a hinge whichautomatically positions the mirror containing cover at the correctviewing angle when open.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will,in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part, becomeobvious from the following more detailed description of the invention,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, which forms anintegral part thereof. In the various Figures of the Drawing, likereference characters designate like parts.

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partially open cosmeticcompact which comprises the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hinge means comprising the presentinvention; I

FIG. 3 is an exploded, sectional view illustrating the components of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded view taken along line 4- 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevational viewillustrating the components of FIG. 3 in their assembled condition;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view with portions of thepresent invention removed for clarity and illustrating a novel feature;and

FIG. 7 is an exploded sectional view illustrating a modification of thepresent invention.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown the compact 10comprising the present invention. The compact includes upper and lowerinsert members 12 and 14, respectively, and upper and lower covermembers 16 and 18, respectively. Hinge means 20 are, in a mannerv to bedescribed more fully hereinafter, secured to the insert members 12 and14.

As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the hinge means 20 is comprised ofhinge plates 22 and 24, which have interdigitated fingers 26 and 28,respectively. A hinge pin 30 couples the fingers 26 and 28 in aconventional manner. The outboard end of the hinge plates 22 and 24 areprovided with tabs 32a, 32b and 34a, 34b, that extend in planessubstantially perpendicular to the axis of the hinge pin 30.

The construction of the insert members 12 and 14 and the cover members16 and 18 are shown particularly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The upper insertmember 12 has a convex top surface 36 and in this particular embodimenta substantially circular peripheral portion 38. Of course other shapesare possible such as square, rectangular, etc. A seat 40 is provided inwhich a mirror M may be secured, for example, by means of suitableadhesive means. A chordally oriented lip portion 42 having a beveledsection 44 is formed integrally with a portion of the periphery 38 ofthe upper insert member 12. As shown for example-in FIG. 4, slots orrecesses 46a and 46b are formed in the peripheral portion 38 of theupper insert member 12 in the area of the lip 42. It is preferred thatthe slots extend to the top of the member 12 to simplify molding.

Turning now to the lower insert member 14 it will be seen that thebottom surface 48 thereof is convex and the periphery 50 which matchesperiphery 38, is circular. Acentral recess 52 is provided for receivingthe cosmetic. A seat 54 is formed chordally in order to receive the lip42'as shown in FIG. 5, the seat 54 having a beveled outer edge 56 thatis in opposition to and which cooperates with the bevel 44 of the upperinsert member 12. Slots 58a and 58b are formed in the periphery 50 ofthe lower insert member adjacent the seat 54'thereof so as to receivethe tabs 34a and 34b of the hinge means 20.

Both the upper and lower cover members 16 and 18 are cup shaped and areprovided with base walls 60, 62 respectively, and side walls 64, 66,respectively. Notches 68 and 70 are formed in a portion of the side wall64, 66, respectively. It should be noted that the width of the notches68 and 70 is just slightly greater than the spacing between the slots46a, 46b as well as 58a, 58b. Further, the depth of the notches 68 and70 is dimensioned such that the remainder of the side walls 64, 66conceal and completely cover the slots 46a, 46b and 58a, 58b, in theassembled condition as shown in FIG. 5.

To assemble a compact, the mirror M is secured in any suitable manner,such as by adhesive means or the like, in the seat 40 of the insert.l2.The two inserts l2 and 14 are then superimposed over each other with thelip 42 engaging the seat 54-and the slots 46a, 46b being aligned withthe slots 58a, 58b. The tabs 32a, 32b and 34a, 34b are inserted in theirrespective slots 46a, 46b and 58a, 58b as shown in FIG. 5. Then, bymeans of suitable adhesives or the like, the cover members 16 and 18 aresecured to the insert members 12 and 14 respectively.

It will be appreciated that with the cover members 16 and 18 in'place itis impossible for the hinge to be inadvertently removed since the sidewalls 64, 66 of the upper and lower cover members 16 and 18,respectively, cover and conceal the hinge plates 22 and 24. In thisconnection, it should be noted that when the two notches 68 and 70 areopposed to each other, as shown in FIG. 5, the space defined thereby isonly very slightly larger than the diameter of the interdigitatedfingers 26 and 28 .while the width of the notches 68 and 70 is notsubstantially larger than the length of the hinge pin 30. Thus,substantially all of the hinge assembly is concealed and captured by theside walls 64 and 66 of the upper and lower cover members l6 and 18.

A novel feature and an important advantage of this invention is shown inFIG. 6. The edge of the notch 68 that is in the same plane as the mirrorM when the compact is closed abuts the side wall 66 of the lower covermember 18 when the compact 10 is open. Thus, the combination of thenotch in one cover member and the side wall of the other cover member,cooperate to limit the extent of movementof the upper cover member. Bythis convenient expedient, made possible by the structure of the presentinvention, there is provided integral stop means that automaticallyposition the mirror at the best possible viewing angle. By way ofexample, in the FIG. 6 embodiment, the upper cover member is limited toapproximately 120 of movement between the fully closed and the fullyopened positions.

While the foregoing description relates to slots or recesses formed inthe peripheral walls of the upper and lower insert members cooperatingwith tabs extending radially inward from the hinge plates, it should benoted that the basic concept of the present invention also encompassesthe use of radially outward extending pins molded integrally with theupper and lower insert members so as to cooperate with suitably sizedand shaped cutouts in the hinge plates.

in FIG. 7 there is shown an alternative construction for the presentinvention. Reference characters 80, 82- and 84 designate, respectively,either one or both of typical upper and lower insert members, a typicalhinge plate and a typical peripheral side wall for either one or boththe upper and lower cover members. It will be seen that instead of theslots in the insert member and the radially extending tabs at the end ofthe hinge plates, there is provided a pair of radially oriented pins 86molded integrally with the peripheral side wall of the insert members80. The hinge plates 82 in turn have apertures 88 formed therein forreceiving the pins 86. Optionally, outwardly extending dimples 90 may beprovided in the peripheral walls 84 of the cover members. The dimples 90would provide positive locating means and, in addition, would compensatefor any excessive length of the pins 86. As in the previous embodiment,the two insert members 80 are juxtaposed and the hinge plates 82 arepositioned thereon. The side wall 84 of each of the cover members canthen be used to both conceal and capture the hinge plates 82.

From the foregoing it will be evident that an improved low cost cosmeticcompact has been provided which does not require fasteners for securingthe hinge plate to the upper and lower sections thereof. Means areprovided for loosely coupling a hinge assembly to insert members withthe cover members being used for the purpose of retaining and concealingthe hinge assembly.

There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the inventionpresently contemplated. However, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made thereto without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A cosmeticcompact comprising, in combination: a. upper and lower insert memberseach of which includes a peripheral side wall with a slot therein; I b.hinge means including a pair of binge plates having interdigitatedfingers and a hinge pin extending therethrough; c. means for looselycoupling said hinge plates to said upper and lower insert members; and

d. upper and lower cup-shaped cover means for receiving said upper andlower insert members, respectively, each of said cover means including abase wall and an integral, peripheral side wall having a notch therein,said hinge plates being captured between said peripheral side walls ofsaid cover means and said insert means and positioned in said notches ofsaid cover means whereby said peripheral side walls of said cover meansconceal said hinge plates.

2. The compact in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling meanscomprises at least one pin formed on the side wall of one of said insertmembers and.at least one tab extending from one of said hinge plates,said tab being engaged in said slot.

3. The compact in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling meanscomprises at least one pin formed integrally with and extendingoutwardly from the side wall of one of said insert members and at leastone aperture formed in one of said hinge plates, said pin being engagedin said aperture.

4. The compact in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling meanscomprises at least one slot formed in the side walls of each of saidinsert members and at least one tab extending from each said hingeplate, said tabs being engaged in said slots.

5. The compact in accordance with claim 4 wherein there is a tab formedat both ends of each said hinge plate and wherein there is a like numberof slots formed in said insert members, said slots being sized andspaced for receiving said tabs.

6. The compact in accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling meanscomprises at least one pin formed integrally with and extendingoutwardly from each said insert member and at least one aperture formedin each said hinge plate, said pins being engaged in said apertures.

7. The compact in accordance with claim 6 wherein there are a pair ofpins formedintegrally with and extending outwardly from each said insertmember and wherein there are a like number of apertures in said hingeplates, said apertures being sized and spaced for receiving said pins.

8. The compact in accordance with claim 1 wherein said notch in one ofsaid cover members abuts said peripheral side wall of said other covermember in the open position to thereby define integral stop means forlimiting movement of said one cover member.

1. A cosmetic compact comprising, in combination: a. upper and lowerinsert members each of which includes a peripheral side wall with a slottherein; b. hinge means including a pair of hinge plates havinginterdigitated fingers and a hinge pin extending therethrough; c. meansfor loosely coupling said hinge plates to said upper and lower insertmembers; and d. upper and lower cup-shaped cover means for receivingsaid upper and lower insert members, respectively, each of said covermeans including a base wall and an integral, peripheral side wall havinga notch therein, said hinge plates being captured between saidperipheral side walls of said cover means and said insert means andpositioned in said notches of said cover means whereby said peripheralside walls of said cover means conceal said hinge plates.
 2. The compactin accordance with claim 1 wherein said coupling means comprises atleast one pin formed on the side wall of one of said insert members andat least one tab extending from one of said hinge plates, said tab beingengaged in said slot.
 3. The compact in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid coupling means comprises at least one pin formed integrally withand extending outwardly from the side wall of one of said insert membersand at least one aperture formed in one of said hinge plates, said pinbeing engaged in said aperture.
 4. The compact in accordance with claim1 wherein said coupling means comprises at least one slot formed in theside walls of each of said insert members and at least one tab extendingfrom each said hinge plate, said tabs being engaged in said slots. 5.The compact in accordance with claim 4 wherein there is a tab formed atboth ends of each said hinge plate and wherein there is a like number ofslots formed in said insert members, said slots being sized and spacedfor receiving said tabs.
 6. The compact in accordance with claim 1wherein said coupling means comprises at least one pin formed integrallywith and extending outwardly from each said insert member and at leastone aperture formed in each said hinge plate, said pins being engaged insaid apertures.
 7. The compact in accordance with claim 6 wherein thereare a pair of pins formed integrally with and extending outwardly fromeach said insert member and wherein there are a like number of aperturesin said hinge plates, said apertures being sized and spaced forreceiving said pins.
 8. The compact in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid notch in one of said cover members abuts said peripheral side wallof said other cover member in the open position to thereby defineintegral stop means for limiting movement of said one cover member.